Germany has declared the UK an area of COVID concern and is not allowing tourists into the country from late on Sunday evening.

It is also tightening its testing and quarantine rules for those who are allowed in.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its advice to say: “From 23:01 on 19 December, only German citizens and residents may travel to Germany from the UK (there are limited exemptions).

“Permitted travellers must now have proof of a negative COVID test, regardless of vaccination status.

“All permitted travellers arriving in Germany after 23:01 on 19 December must quarantine at home for 14 days irrespective of their vaccination status.”

The Netherlands has announced a lockdown, starting on Sunday 19 December, which is expected to last until mid-January.

The FCDO updated its advice late on Friday evening to say: “The Dutch government has implemented measures which mean that non-EU/EEA nationals and nationals of non-Schengen states arriving from outside of the Schengen area will not be permitted entry to the Netherlands for non-essential purposes due to EU-wide COVID-19 restrictions.”